Monday, December 28, 2015

Good morning Friends ~ I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and that this last week of 2015 will be a time of thanksgiving and reflection. May 2016 be a good year for all.Thank you all for your Christmas wishes of good times with family. It was wonderful! My BIL, Todd and his wife Sue, had the gathering in their lovely home. I met new people, got reacquainted with others, people watched and even though my DH wasn't there, I felt so much love from others. I teared up a couple of times, one was when we were singing a hymn and the words were about heaven, the other times were at the love and generosity of others.We had love, laughter and good food. There were 16 of us, the youngest was 12 and the oldest in early 80's. This was the tree after some gifts had been opened but before the troops arrived bearing more gifts.

This was the group minus myself.

This was my plate. All was delicious, field peas from GA, a slaw salad, ham, corn casserole, carrot souffle, mashed potatoes and green bean casserole. For appetizers there was chips & veggies with dips, boiled peanuts (peanuts from GA), crackers and cheese. For dessert there were cookies, apple and pumpkin pies, a wonderful banana pudding. We were all quite filled up after this feast.

After dinner and before gifts were opened, we sat in the family room where hymnals were passed around, and sweet Sue played the keyboard (she's a pianist) and we sang favorite old hymns. I did good until we got to one song that mentioned heaven and then a few tears fell.

It was truly a wonderful celebration, of love, life and thankfulness to Jesus for all that He has done in our lives.

To top off the day was walking out of the door and seeing that beautiful full moon. Wow!

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On the Saturday before Christmas, my friends Nanci and John took me out to eat to a fantastic Mexican restaurant called Guacamole. The colorful atmosphere, the presentation, and the food were all great! It was another love and joy filled time.

This cross collection belongs to the owner of the restaurant.

Colorful atmosphere.

This was my dessert, fried ice cream. Delicious and so huge was shared by the three of us. See my colorful margarita glass, almost empty. The first one I had was in blues. :-) I asked the waiter both times if I couldn't have the glass to take home. I came home empty handed in the glass dept. but did bring home lunch for the next day as I just couldn't finish my wonderful chicken enchiladas. Had been served with yellow rice and black beans. We had had corn chips with guacamole and salsa for appetizer.

Here's a pic of Nanci and I taken by John on my new cell phone. :-)

They also came bearing gifts, which I put under my little tree and opened Christmas morning. They also gave me a monetary gift, which I used yesterday to buy a simple, small sewing machine by Brother. It had a lot of good reviews and sounded just right for what I want to use it for, so that I can save time with my creations instead of doing everything by hand. Does this little machine not look like one that FlowerLady would use?

Last night I got a Pinterest notification for new boards for me to check out and one of them was for making Hexie quilt projects. Oh my gosh, the creative juices started flowing and I am excited to be trying my hand at this.

I am looking forward to 2016. To see what Jesus has in store for me this year. My thought for the new year is,

So glad to hear that you spent time with family and friends. I know there is some sadness that creeps in but your DH would sure be proud of you going because he knew you are a little on the shy side. Praying 2016 will be a blessed year for you.

It seems to me that your's was what Christmas SHOULD be like.SInging,laughing, love, remembrance, family, friends and food. I am glad you have all of that. Here's wishing you a remarkable new year ahead!

Sounds like a wonderful Christmas, with lots of love and good food. It's such a credit to your courage and strength that you can still take joy in all the beauty around you, and enjoy planning to create even more beauty, with your new sewing machine. I'm sure your husband is proud of you. I'm thankful for your friendship this past year, and look forward to visiting with you in 2016, and seeing all your lovely creations! Blessings, Deborah

Looks like you have had a wonderful Christmas season and the sewing machine is perfect.Last week I found a post on Pinterest about penny rugs and jumped in and have been working on one! There are so many good ideas on there and not nearly enough time to try them all. Best wishes for the new year!

I enjoyed your blog so much but then just clicked on, forgetting to comment. A family group like that were glad to have you there eating and sharing for the time. I am glad you could go. The Mexican cafe is something we don't do much more with my wife's heart condition and salt restrictions. I am so glad you got the sewing machine. I bet you are still smiling over that purchase. It looks like a perfect machine for you and all your great creations. Now you can work faster.

Happiness, togetherness and a little sadness all rolled into one, Lovely tree and gifts, but the wee Brother, that is so right for you,this will be so handy, I can see new projects being whizzed up in no time at all.

Rainey, it did my heart good to read this post. Just knowing you were with loving family and friends. I understand the tears. It's been 8 1/2 years and a remarriage since Jim's homegoing and I still find myself crying sometimes when we sing a hymn or praise song that speaks of going home to Heaven. And I can't get through Be Thou My Vision which was sung at Jim's Memorial Service (his favorite hymn) without tears. I'm so glad you're surrounded by kind, compassionate people. The new sewing machine is wonderful and I know you will put it to very good use. I have a little Brother machine, much like yours, and I love it. Happy New Year, my friend. xo ~ Nancy

Looks like some fun Christmas gatherings for you. The table setting was beautiful. That sewing machine is perfect for you. Didn't know you could get them now with flowers!! Enjoy your gifts and Happy New Year.

It sounds like you had a wonderful and blessed Christmas - so glad to hear that. And your dinner at the mexican restaurant sounded yummy...one of my favorite cuisines! I'm glad you bought yourself a sewing machine. I bet you'll have a lot of fun with it.

Hi RaineyI am SO happy that you had such a wonderful Christmas with your family and friends. You better watch out, hexies are addictive. A great project to hand stitch no matter where you are and if you select a large project it can just go on forever!!

Here are wishes for a grand New Year (holiday) and a wonderful New Year.xx, Carol

Glad you had a good day surrounded by love. Wasn't that moom magnificent! I'm heading north today to visit my 2 sisters. It's very hot where they are so I have packed my bathers. 2016 is going to be a great year. Thinking of you.

I'm so glad that you were surrounded by love and happiness on Christmas, my Dear! It sounds like the perfect day - singing, laughing, good food, a few tears, and lots of hugs. Your new sewing machine is wonderful and the perfect gift for such a creative gal. Wishing you many lovely blessings in the New Year. Big hug xo Karen

Hi There, I love keeping up with you and your full life... I am so glad that you are getting invitations to visit others (family and friends) during the holidays. Holidays can be SO hard for one who is alone... Sounds like you had a marvelous Christmas --even without your Sweetheart.. God Bless You.

We are fine... Just staying busy. I'll have about 16 in my SMALL home over the 1st... Should be fun --but maybe a little hectic... ha ha

What a wonderful and blessed Christmas you had. I can see that you are much loved by family and friends. That's a great looking sewing machine - especially the flowers - that you purchased. I know you will get much use out of it. Wishing you much joy and happiness in 2016.

So glad to read and see how beautifully wonderful your Christmas was! What special memories you made with family and friends! And to answer your question...yes! That sewing machine has your name written all over it! Can't wait to see what 2016 holds for you my friend!!! Much love!

You've communicated the joy of the Lord to me via this post! Singing is always my favorite part of our extended family's gatherings. There are ALWAYS tears. I think they are a GOOD thing. (Tears, I mean.)

The menus you describe sound so delicious. The photos show warm and loving gatherings. If your husband can/does see you, his heart must be overflowing; his eyes smiling....

I love your new sewing machine - it is absolutely the perfect thing for Flowerlady to create wonderful things on... fabrics in the colours of the petals in your flower garden will sail through it with the greatest of ease and you will make lovely treasures - that is my wish for you...Your Christmas sounds magical... beautiful gifts of friendship wrapped around you and gave great joy.I hope the new Year brings many more wonderful times such as those you have shared here.many hugs,

A wonderful uplifting post Lorraine, and I'm so happy that Christmas was filled with love for you. I know too well how tears would have threatened but with such love embracing you the day went well. May the new year hold good things and much peace for you dear Lorraine.

Sorry about the cork.T hope it opened today... My Christmas was simpleand lovely but like always someone was missing. I am so grateful to be able to garden..it is one of my greatest pleasures and I am sure it is one of yours too. Happy New Year to you sweet friend...

About Me

This blog was started in 2008. It has been about life shared with my dear husband and best friend.
He went to be with Jesus 9 Dec. 2012, and my life changed. I miss my husband daily, but God is my strength, and He is with me through each and every day.
Hubby & I will be reunited again one day and what a reunion that will be.
I enjoy gardening, needleworking, reading and music.
Every day is a learning experience.

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It does not meanto be in a placewhere there is no noise,troubleor hard work.

It means to be in the midstof those thingsand stillbe calm in your heart.

(author unknown)

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The Continuing Journey

A new blog about this next phase in my life. It will be a learning experience. One of dependence on God to fill the void left in my life by the loss of my DH. It will be my thoughts and times of grief. A place to let it out. Maybe it will be of some help to others.

FlowerLady Lorraine

For Widows

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I found the book 'Undistracted Widow ~ Living for God After Losing Your Husband' by Carol Cornish, online when I was searching for bits and pieces to help me as a new widow. This book is wonderful and just what I needed. It is full of encouragement and scripture.

I highly recommend it for anyone who is a widow, and for those who would like to know how to help widows as they go and grow in this next part of their journey.

It would also be a great help to any woman who is single, as it is all about trusting in Jesus for all things.

Sincerely ~ FlowerLady Lorraine

Sabbath Moments

TERRY HERSHEY is an inspirational speaker, humorist, author, and designer of sanctuary gardens who has been featured on The Hallmark Channel, CNN, PBS, and NPR. Terry holds a mirror up to our fast-forward, disconnected lives, and offers us the “power of pause”—the wisdom of slowing down and the permission to take an intentional Sabbath moment to regain emotional and spiritual balance… to find the sacred in every single day.

One cannot but be in awewhen one contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life,of the marvelous structure of reality.It is enoughif one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery each day.Never lose a holy curiosity.